After nearly a year away from game action, offensive lineman Ty Sambrailo is set to make his return to the field on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Sambrailo, who may be more recognizable in a Colorado State uniform than a Broncos uniform, was selected in the second round of the 2015 draft to be a major piece in the resurgence of the offensive line.
However, since then Sambrailo has had nearly as many injuries (two) as starts (three). During his rookie season he was assigned the task of protecting Peyton Manning’s blind side at left tackle. After two and a half solid games Sambrailo’s season quickly came to an end, tearing his labrum in his shoulder in Week 3 against the Detroit Lions.
Despite playing well at tackle, during the offseason the Broncos decided to move Sambrailo to guard and initially have him start at right guard – that was until the start of training camp when Sambrailo hyperextended his elbow, sidelining him before he could even get back onto the field.
What was initially supposed to be a day-to-day injury has now kept Sambrailo away from the field for nearly two months. Now, closing in on the one-year anniversary of the last time he saw game action (Sept. 27, 2015), it seems as if Sambrailo will finally make his return to the field.
“I’m excited to get back out there and change what this anniversary means. I’m excited to go play and get back there on the field,” Ty Sambrailo said.
In fact, Sambrailo was healthy enough to suit up in week two against the Indianapolis Colts.
“Ty [Sambrailo] was ready to go [Sunday against the Colts] and we chose not to suit him up. We chose to suit up the six defensive linemen and rotate them. Ty is ready to go; that gives us some flexibility in what we can do,” head coach Gary Kubiak said.
After right tackle Donald Stephenson suffered a calf injury against the Colts it opened the door for Sambrailo’s return against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
“We have a lot of options. I think with Donald [out] right now, I see us playing a lot of people. We could get into a rotation type of thing,” Kubiak said. “Obviously Michael [Schofield] can play out there, Ty [Sambrailo] can play out there and even [Darrion] Weems can really play out there. We’ll have our seven and probably play them all.”
Although Kubiak and the coaching staff haven’t developed an exact plan for the offensive line, it is clear that Sambrailo will play, even if it’s in a limited role.
“Ty, being ready to go this week, it’s his first time out. We have to make sure we massage that situation like we do with any player,” Kubiak said.
What is still uncertain is exactly where he will play. Even though the Broncos used him at guard the entire offseason, the injury to Stephenson opened up a spot at right tackle, a position Sambrailo played at CSU. With Michael Schofield at right guard, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Sambrailo at either guard or tackle on Sunday, or even both. Sambrailo said he’s prepared to play any position.
“You just go out there and prepare and get ready to play. We’re all going with the same mindset. At any point your name or number can be called, so we’re all prepared and ready to go,” Sambrailo said.
Even though Sambrailo will likely see the field for the first time in a year on Sunday, his journey to becoming a full-time starter is far from over. Depending on how Sambrailo plays, there is certain to be another shakeup along the offensive line once Stephenson recovers from his injury in a few weeks.
But before thinking about anything further, Sambrailo is just happy to get back on the field.
